Kalanchoe plant named ‘Kasipi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Kasipi’, characterized by its broadly upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; bright red purple-colored flowers with large petals; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KASIPI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Kasipi’.

The new Kalanchoe plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform Kalanchoe plants with attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands in May, 2003, of a proprietary selection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as code number 20021144-005, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with a proprietary selection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as code number 20011078-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Kalanchoe plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands in September, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands since October, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Kasipi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Kasipi’ as a new and distinct Kalanchoe plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright and uniformly mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Bright red purple-colored flowers with large petals.     -   6. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more compact than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have light pink-colored flowers.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have longer postproduction         longevity than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can also be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have shorter leaves than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Flower petals of plants of the new Kalanchoe are broader than         flower petals of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Kazergo’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of ‘Kazergo’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Kalanchoe were lighter in color         than leaves of plants of ‘Kazergo’.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had larger flowers than plants of         ‘Kazergo’.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Kazergo’ differed in flower         color as flowers of plants of ‘Kazergo’ were red in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Kalanchoe plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Kalanchoe plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Kasipi’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet are close-up views of the upper and lower surfaces of typical flowers (top), a typical inflorescence (center) and the upper and lower surfaces of typical leaves (bottom).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Kalanchoe production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C. and light levels ranged from 5 to 60 kilolux. Plants received long day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for about four weeks; plants then received photoinductive short day/long night conditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were 13 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Kasipi’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe             blossfeldiana identified as code number 20021144-005, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe             blossfeldiana identified as code number 20011078-001, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at             temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright and uniformly             mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit;             appropriate for 12-cm and larger containers.         -   Plant height at flowering.—About 21.4 cm.         -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 23.1 cm. -   Branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Plants grown as single-stem plants, only             one main branch.         -   Length, from soil to base of inflorescence.—About 3.9 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 8 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 9 mm.         -   Aspect.—Erect.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Luster.—Glossy.         -   Color.—Between N137A and 141A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 10.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate, somewhat irregular.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Obtuse to short cuneate.         -   Margin.—Coarsely and irregularly crenate; undulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous,             leathery; succulent.         -   Luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Between 137A and             146A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Between 137A and 147A;             venation, close to 137C. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 143C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm by 7 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: Close to 143A. Color, lower surface: Close to             143C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Single cruciform             flowers arranged on a single terminal compound cyme; flowers             face upright to somewhat outwardly; uniform and freely             flowering habit with usually about 180 flowers developing             per inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe flower             naturally during the spring until the autumn in gardens in             The Netherlands; flower initiation and development can also             be induced under artificial short day/long conditions (at             least 14 hours of darkness).         -   Time to flower.—Under short day/long night photoinductive             conditions, about 60 days are required to produce flowering             plants.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe have             exhibited excellent postproduction longevity; flowers             maintain good substance for about seven weeks under interior             environmental conditions; individual flowers last about ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 18.4 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 20.4 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.3 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 1.8 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Narrowly oblong. Color: Close to 39B; towards the             base, close to 144B.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a single whorl;             lower 55% of petals is fused forming a tube. Length: About             2.4 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Narrowly obovate. Apex:             Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Between 54B and 58B; throat, close to 145B. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 54C; tube, close to 145B;             main vein, close to 36D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 58C; throat, close to 145B; color does not fade with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 54C;             tube, close to 145B; main vein, close to 36D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a single whorl;             calyx, cruciform in shape. Length: About 9 mm. Width: About             2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acuminate. Base:             Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth; glabrous. Color, immature, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 144B. Color, mature, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 11.7 cm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm.             Aspect: Main peduncle is erect and lateral peduncles are             about 35° from main peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Aspect:             Main pedicel is erect and lateral pedicels are 30° from main             pedicel axis. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 137B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About eight             per flower. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color:             Close to 145A. Anther length: About 0.5 mm. Anther shape:             Oblong. Anther color: Close to 152B. Amount of pollen:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 11C. Gynoecium: Pistil             number: About four per flower. Pistil length: About 4 mm.             Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close to 143C. Stigma             shape: Club-shaped, fringed. Stigma color: Close to 155A.             Ovary color: Close to 143A to 143B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed on plants of the new Kalanchoe. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not     been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to     Kalanchoe plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Kasipi’ as illustrated and described. 